Birds of a Feather

Chapter Eight - More Similarities

Asher was still trying to break the code so Chris and I decided to go to his house to bring him some food.

"This...is Asher's house?" I openly gawked.

"Yeah, why?" Chris asked.

'It's huge...!'

Chris rang the doorbell and a moment later Asher opened the door.

"...Oh. It's just you, Chris." He said not noticing me yet.

"Heya!" Chris said ignoring Asher bored tone.

"Um... H-Hi..." I spoke up.

Asher blinked and looked surprised.

'Wow... It's been a while since I've seen him. I'm kinda nervous...'

"...Why are you hanging around like goldfish crap?" He asked gruffly.

"G-Goldfish crap?!" I exclaimed looking outraged.

'Yup... Our moving reunion...turned out not to be so moving...' I scowled openly at him. 'Jeez! The first thing he does is call me goldfish crap...?!'

"How's it going?" Chris asked breaking the down spiraling mood.

"It's pretty rough." Asher groaned in frustration and then shot a look at me. "...It's your great-grandpa's fault! What's with that damn code? I don't get it at all!"

I raised my eye brow at him, "It's not my fault G-Pa was eccentric."

Chris raised the plastic bag with a two huge boxes of food in front of Asher, "Here, we brought you some dinner so you can take a break."

'That's a lot of food! Where did he get this?' I wondered.

I read the logo on the bag, "Sakurahime Restaurant? Isn't that a traditional gourmet Japanese restaurant?"

"Yeah, my family owns it." Chris said.

"Seriously?!" I exclaimed.

Chris looked confused, "Oh, I didn't tell you?" He asked and I shook my head 'no'. "Huh. Well my mom runs it."

"Sounds like a place only really rich or important people go..." I mumbled.

"Ugh, I'm tired of standing around talking." Asher complained and started to walk back into his house. "Come in."

"Alright, thanks." Chris repeated and shook his head as he followed Asher inside.

"Tired of standing around talking?" I muttered. "It sounds like you're a hermit..."

I hesitated at the doorway for a moment, '...But is it okay for me to come it, too?'

I heard Asher call out to me and went inside.

...

I looked around in awe. The outside of the house looked huge but it seemed to look even bigger on the inside.

'Does he live in this big house by himself?' I absently wondered.

"Don't be shy, Pendragon. Come on. Sit down and eat." Chris said snapping me out of my daze.

"O-Okay, thank you!" I said and sat down at the table where Chris laid out all the food he brought over.

'Hm, I'll have some sushi...'

But just as I try to take the biggest one with my chopsticks Asher tries to grab it with his.

"Hey!" Asher glared at me.